Students are reassessed in the failed elements of assessment and by the same methods as the first attempt.

The modules offered in each academic year are subject to change in line with staff availability and student demand: there is no guarantee every module will run. Module descriptions and information may vary between years.

Places on this module will be capped at 16 and will be allocated in the first instance to those students from any College who are following the MA Late Antique and Byzantine Studies degree programme and students on the King's College London MA Medieval History programme. Any remaining places up the maximum size of the class will then be distributed proportionally between Colleges.

This module covers the transitional period which preceded and followed the Arabic conquest of large parts of the Byzantine empire in the seventh century. Initially, Byzantium struggled to contain the Arabic expansion in the East and the Slavic settlement in its European provinces. Numerous administrative reforms testify to this effort, and perhaps equally, one of the most emblematic theological debates to be associated with the Eastern empire, that of Iconoclasm.

In this module we will look closely at how the Byzantines faced these threats to their stability and follow the historical course up to the onset of gradual economic, political and cultural revival in the late eighth century.

Suggested introductory reading

This is suggested reading and purchase of these books is not mandatory.